Improvement in combined quarter and weighted-toe boots for horses



e. BUTCHERS.

Patented Apr-il 14,1874.

W. Combined Quarter and Weighted Tue-Boots for Horses.

No.l49.572.

//w Wa an UNITE STATES PATENT rrrcn WILLIAM B. BUTOHERS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED QUARTER WElGHTED-TOE BOOTS FOR HORSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 149,572, dated April 14, 1874; application filed March 24, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. BUrcHERs, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a Combined Quarter and Weighted'Toe Boot, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making part of this specification, in Which-- 1 Figure 1 is a perspective view of my combined quarter and weighted-toe boot. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line w x of Fig. 2.

Heretofore it has been customary to employ a loaded-toe boot for changing the gait of pacers and uneven-gaited horses to square trotters, and where the horse was liable to overreach it has been necessary to employ another boot styled a quarter-boot, to pro tect the foot from injury. These two separate and independent boots are objectionable, for the reason that they require considerable time to apply and' are inconvenient to adjust upon the foot, besides which, as one must be placed over the other, it is seldom that a snug fit is obtained.

My invention has for its purpose to overcome the above mentioned objections; and

consists iii a quarter-boot and a weighted-toe boot combined in one, by which construction the delay and inconvenience incident to the" adjustment of .two separate and independent boots, as heretofore, are avoided, a reduction in the cost of the boots is effected, and a better fit insured. My invention also consists in one or more metallic loops projecting from the toeboot, in combination with a fastening-strap passing around its outside, and so arranged as to enable the boot to be adjusted to feet of different sizes, the loop or loops serving to guide the strap and keep it in such a position as will prevent the clip between the shoe and hoof from working out of place.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have, carried it out.

In the said drawings, A represents the front portion of my improved boot, which is loaded and corresponds to the ordinary toe-boot used for changing the gate of pacers and unevengaited horses to square trotters, this portion A being provided with an ordinary clip, 5, which is intended to fit between the shoe and hoof to keep the boot in place. The rear portion B of the boot, which is higher than the portion A, and extends from a to b, is padded, and corresponds to the ordinary quarter-boot used for preventing a horse from cutting himself by overreaching. The boot is open on one side to allow of its being adjusted in place upon the foot, and the end of the portion B forming the quarter-boot is provided with a buckle, c, and overlaps the adjacent end of the portion A forming the toe-boot, which is provided with a strap, cl, which passes inside the portion B, through a leather loop, 0, and out through a slit or opening, h, whence it passes around the outside of the front portion A, through two metallic loops, 2' i, to the buckle c, and by tightening this strap the boot may be readily made to fit a foot of any ordinary size, the strap also preventing the clip 5 from working out of place.

It will be seen that the loops 1; t serve as guides to keep the strap (1 in its proper position and prevent it from riding up on the inclined surface of the toe-boot and becoming loose. By making these loops i i of metal the passage of the strap is' always insured, which is not the case with leather loops after being exposed to wet and mud.

My combined toe and quarter boot presents the following advantages, viz: The two boots can be put on simultaneously, instead of requiring two operations, as is the case where they are separate and independent, as heretofore. My combined boot can be more easily applied, and in less time than either of the two separate boots. It fits the foot snugly, and is less clumsy than the separate toe and quarter boots, which have to be placed one over the other. It can be readily applied and adjusted to horses feet of different sizes, and can be afforded at a less cost than the two separate boots heretofore used. Furthermore, the liability of misplacing either the toe or quarter boot, or of forgetting to put one of them on, incident to the use of separate boots, strap, cl, passing inside the portion 13, and

is entirely avoided, as they are always together, around the outside of the portion A, substanand one cannot be applied without the other. tially as described, for the purpose set forth.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to Witness my hand this 19th day of March,

secure by Letters Patent, is 1874.

1. A combined quarter and wei 'hted-toe 1 boot constructed and operating sub stantially WILLIAM BUTLHERS' in the manner and for the purpose described. In presence of-- 2. One or more metallic loops, 0?, projecting 1-. E. TESCHEMAGHER, from the portion A, in combination with a W. J. CAMBRIDGE. 

